Definitions

only

[ohn-lee] / ˈoʊn li /

ADJECTIVE

singular

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alone

WEAK

apart by oneself exclusive individual isolated lone matchless once in a lifetime one one and only one-shot particular peerless single sole solitary solo unaccompanied unequaled unique unparalleled unrivaled

ADVERB

barely; exclusively

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alone entirely hardly merely particularly purely simply solely

STRONG

but just

WEAK

at most nothing but plainly totally uniquely utterly wholly

Antonyms

STRONGEST

incompletely indefinitely

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Only one liquefied natural gas tanker carrying Qatari gas to Pakistan crossed, on May 12.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

Only two Confederates were tried, convicted and executed for war crimes after the 1865 surrender at Appomattox.

From Salon • May 18, 2026

Stress balls in the shape of footballs, courtesy of the Only Agency.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Only two years ago, they were taking on German champions Bayer Leverkusen in a Europa League quarter-final.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

Only as I walked out of the building did I begin to tremble.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom